Death Penalty Opposition Plans Execution Vigil

A coalition of groups that oppose the death penalty plan to hold a vigil outside of the South Dakota State Penitentiary and in other cities Monday night as the state executes Eric Robert.

Robert pleaded guilty to his part in the murder of Correctional Officer Ronald "RJ" Johnson and is scheduled to die by lethal injection Monday at 10 p.m.

The South Dakota Peace and Justice Center, Pax Christi and South Dakotans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty plan to peacefully gather that night at 8 p.m.

"We're a group of people who do not affirm our state's policy that taking human life is justified," SDPJC spokesperson Mark Sanderson said in a statement that also speaks out against the planned execution of convicted killer Donald Moeller. Moeller is scheduled to be put to death the week of October 28 for killing 9-year-old Becky O'Connell in 1990.

Other solidarity vigils will be held across the state in cities including Rapid City, Pierre and Vermillion.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:A misspelling was corrected in this story.